Gemologist building case for Derby favorite

I'll Have Another, left, ridden by Mario Gutierrez, outruns Creative Cause, center, and Blueskiesnrainbows to win the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday at Arcadia, Calif. The race is the West's leading prep for the Kentucky Derby.

NEW YORK - Gemologist won the $1 million Wood Memorial for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct on Saturday, holding off Alpha by a neck to improve to 5-for-5.

The latest victory makes the colt trained by Todd Pletcher one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby on May 5. Gemologist will enjoy an important advantage over many rivals in the Derby, having already won twice at Churchill Downs. He captured an allowance race and the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes there to close out his 2-year-old season.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Gemologist ran 11⁄8 miles in 1:50.96. The $600,000 first prize in the Wood assures Gemologist a starting spot in the Derby, where the 20 entrants are determined by graded stakes earnings.

Teeth of the Dog finished third.

I'll Have Another wins Santa Anita

I'll Have Another edged 9-10 favorite Creative Cause by a nose in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby in Arcadia, Calif., returning from a two-month layoff to make himself one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby.

Sent off at 4-1 odds, I'll Have Another ran 11⁄8 miles in 1:47.88 under Mario Gutierrez in the West's leading prep for the Kentucky Derby.

I'll Have Another paid $10.20, $4.20 and $3.60. Creative Cause returned $2.60 and $2.40, while Blueskiesnrainbows paid $9.60 to show. The top three horses came charging down the stretch together in the most exciting of the day's three Derby preps around the country.

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